You may ask, “How to get from Chiang Mai Airport to the city” after arriving at Chiang Mai Airport. No need to worry about mobility because various Chiang Mai airport transportation can help you access various places.
Find public, private, and even traditional transportation that can help you get to your hotel or other places in the explanation below!
Chiang Mai Airport Transportation
There are various modes of transportation that you can use, some of which are taxis, buses, shuttle buses, tuk-tuks, and songthaews. The following is an explanation of each of these modes of transportation.
1. Taxis
Taxis are the vehicles most waiting for prospective passengers at airports worldwide. Likewise, you will find many Chiang Mai taxi services at Chiang Mai Airport.
You can choose two taxi options: metered taxis or taxis whose fares must be negotiated with the driver first.
Taxis are perfect for those who want less time on the road or prefer privacy, which is not easy to get when using public transportation.
The distance from the airport to the city center is about 4 km and can be reached in 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The fare to the city center is around 200 THB (5.97 USD).
Meanwhile, the average Chiang Mai taxi cost to other destinations is around 160 THB (4.78 USD). You can find these taxis in various areas of the airport.
2. Buses
There are several Chiang Mai bus stations to the airport so you can choose two-way trips. Buses are a more economical transportation option and have a large capacity.
You can choose the bus from RTC (Regional Transit Cooperation), which can take you to several stations in Chiang Mai.
You can find these buses after leaving Door 1 Exit Chiang Mai Airport. Passengers can recognize the bus from its blue color, also often known as the Chiang Mai Smart Bus.
This bus operates from 06.00 AM to 11.30 PM and departs every 20 to 30 minutes, so your waiting time will be short. Travel time to the city center is around 25 to 35 minutes, and Wi-Fi facilitates the bus to make the trip more enjoyable.
The fare for one trip is 20 THB (0.60 USD), which you can pay in cash or with a special card called a rechargeable Rabbit Card.
You can also use the airport shuttle bus at the Gate 9 exit, with a one-way fare of 60 THB (1.79 USD).
3. Car Rental
You can rent a car if you come with family or friends and want a flexible trip. Finding a rental provider is easy because you can visit the information desk of each company in the terminal area.
Some of these rental service providers are Budget, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, and Sixt. The rates for each service differ, depending on the car type and facilities you get.
You can also book a car online through the official website of each company above. If you rent a car, some additional facilities are extra drivers, passenger insurance, and navigation.
4. Tuk-Tuk
If you want to feel a different travel sensation, you can choose one of the icons from Thailand, Tuk-Tuk. Almost all world tourists planning a trip to Thailand put a tuk-tuk on their travel wish list.
If you want to feel the local sensation of Thailand immediately, then choose a tuk-tuk. Make sure beforehand that you are not in a hurry because the travel time is slower, and some drivers first stop at the souvenir center.
You can’t find tuk-tuks inside the airport area because they are prohibited from operating there. You can see rows of tuk-tuks waiting for passengers around the highway after the airport.
The cost of a one-way trip by tuk-tuk to the city center is around 100 to 150 THB (2.99 to 5.38 USD). However, to avoid fraud, discuss the price with the driver first because some people ask you for additional fees.
5. Songthaew
A songthaew is also one of the local vehicles that can take you along with other passengers because these vehicles are shared-ride trucks.
Like tuk-tuks, songthaews are also not allowed to operate within the airport area. An alternative to getting songthaew access is to walk first to the main road.
There must have been a lot of songthaew drivers waiting there so that the transports would be complete and they could walk towards the city.
The general fare for the Chiang Mai songthaew to the airport and vice versa is around 40 THB (1.19 USD). Meanwhile, if you rent one of these cars, the fare can be around 200 THB (5.97 USD).
You can consider the five Chiang Mai Airport transportation options above in advance, according to your budget and needs. However, ensure that you have booked a plane ticket to Chiang Mai. It’s easy; download the Airpaz app and order tickets quickly there.
